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The sandy and pebble beaches of Gelendzhik are located within the city limits and the nearest suburbs. Most of them occupy the coast near the longest city embankment in Europe - 12 km, in the bay between two capes - Tonkiy and Tolstoy. The center with its equipped recreation areas is located closer to the rocky Tolstoy Cape, on which the lighthouse rises.
The popular resort has recently become noticeably prettier: reconstruction has been carried out on the coastal strip, and the construction of new entertainment venues has been completed. Changes have also occurred on the territory of the popular beaches of Gelendzhik: sand was brought to some rocky shores, and flat areas covered with ceramic tiles and deck boards with beautiful modern canopies and comfortable sun loungers appeared among the rocks in the sunbathing areas.
Tourists are welcomed here all year round; sanatoriums also accept holidaymakers in the winter. The swimming season lasts from June to early October and has its own characteristics:
- June - average air temperature is 23-24 °C, water - 19-20 °C;
- July-August - air temperature within 29-30 °C, water - 24-25 °C;
- September - the air temperature during the day stays at 25-26 °C, the water temperature is 22-23 °C, but in the evenings it is already noticeably cool.
The summer heat on the beaches of Gelendzhik is easily tolerated, facilitated by light refreshing breezes blowing from the Black Sea.
The best beaches of Gelendzhik
Most of the beaches of Gelendzhik are covered with small pebbles, shell rock and sand are less common; the seabed can contrast with the coating on the shore. The entrance to the water depends on the location: in the center of the city and closer to Tonky Cape it is gentle, as you approach the end point of Tolstoy Cape it becomes sharper. Algae blooms in the waters of the bay are extremely rare, so holidays here are not overshadowed by unpleasant odors, as in other resorts in the Krasnodar Territory.
Beach "Gardens of the Seas"
This municipal pebble beach is located on the Tolstoy Cape of Gelendzhik, its length along the water’s edge is about 300 meters, its capacity is about 2000 people. The recreation area is equipped: there is a platform for placing umbrellas, canopies and gazebos are installed separately. Three rescue posts monitor safety on land and water, and there is a first aid post. Entertainment is usual for a seaside holiday - boats, banana boats, catamarans, hydro scooters. There are several inexpensive cafes near the beach.
Bahamas Beach
A cozy city beach - 200 m, with an artificial “pie” of coverage - the bottom layer consists of small pebbles, the top layer is sand. The seabed remains rocky, so sensitive swimmers may need special shoes. The descent to depth cannot be called gentle, but it is quite acceptable for children.
The reason to visit this beach will be: the close proximity to the water park, where many attractions await children and adults, its own elegant playground, the presence of new beach equipment, including canopies, gazebos, umbrellas with sun loungers and changing rooms. Another plus is that the pier of the local yacht club is nearby, whose sailboats create a unique romantic mood. And as a cherry on the cake, the Bahamas has affordable rental prices for beach equipment and services.
Beach of the Blue Wave sanatorium
The beach is located at the end of the city embankment at the beginning of Cape Tonkiy. In the ratio of sand and pebbles, it is the exact opposite of the Bahamas. Here, on the shore, tourists will find small and deep pebbles, and in the sea there will be a pleasant sandy bottom. The area of land at the water's edge is small, so the main area for sunbathers is located in front of the embankment, where there is greenery, and descent into the water is carried out from the embankment itself along luxurious empire-style stairs. Sun loungers and entertainment are present only on a small beach by the sea, but in the required quantity and in all the resort variety. In addition to water activities, you can rent a regular bicycle here for a walk along the coast.
Chaika Beach
Very clean and less crowded than in the city center, pebble beach on Thin Cape. It is located at the very end of the cape, so sea currents are noticeable in the water. All other indicators of the recreation area are at the highest level. There are even benches installed here, on which you can watch the raging elements in bad weather, and at night you can comfortably watch the stars. “Chaika” has its own pier, where you can always see fishermen with fishing rods, there is a complex of sports training equipment, there are catering shops on the territory, and next to the beach, the resort’s guests receive a clothing and souvenir market.
Operating hours of water attractions
Attractions in the Dolphin water amusement park are open from 9 am to 10 pm, every day, seven days a week and holidays.
The Dolphin water park, like many other tourist and entertainment establishments in the resort area of the Black Sea coast, operates only in the summer season. The opening is usually at the end of May and the closing at the beginning of September. Specific dates change every year - the opening depends on the weather, because the water park is located in the open air, next to the seashore.
Beaches of Blue Bay
Several municipal and wild beaches of Gelendzhik can be found behind the Thin Cape in the Blue Bay, in a small village near the Tuaphat ridge. From the center of Gelendzhik to the village it is only 13 km. The abundance of greenery, turquoise waves, crystal clear water, pleasant small pebbles attract a large number of vacationers to these places, but there are still fewer of them than in the city.
The bay is considered shallow, so the water in it warms up quickly. However, it is worth considering that the depth near the shore increases quickly; just 10 m from the water’s edge it can already correspond to the height of adult swimmers. To get to some beaches you will need to go down the stairs of a rather steep slope; a little physical preparation and a reserve of strength for the road back will not hurt.
Popular beaches of Gelendzhik in Blue Bay:
- central and medical - have a full range of services and entertainment;
- DKTS sanatorium is a little-visited quiet beach, it is possible to leave your car in the parking lot.
"Gardens of the Seas"
The length of the beach is about 400 m , and the shore of small pebbles is convenient and safe for movement. Many tourists have noted the impeccable cleanliness of this coast, which is why it is visited mainly by family . The water in this place is quite warm.
Entrance to the territory is free , but there are paid VIP zones , using which you can truly experience all the delights of the infrastructure. It has everything - trampolines, rides and free exercise equipment. Therefore, active adults and children will not be bored.
The popular place runs parallel to Revolutionary Street. If you get to it by public transport No. 17, you need to get off at the Krymskaya stop. And if on foot, you will have to walk along Krasnodonskaya, Krasnoarmeyskaya, Krymskaya and Revolyutsionnaya streets, and then go down to the sea surface. For owners of personal vehicles, paid parking is provided.
Sandy beaches of Gelendzhik
All beaches within the city have signs with their names, which makes them much easier to find. The design style of the embankment and the entrance group to the coastal zone corresponds to the times of prosperity of the resort - Stalinist Empire style with its characteristic snow-white arches, stairs, decorated with massive balusters and wide railings, which look advantageous against the backdrop of palm trees and other lush greenery. The interior design of the beaches themselves is already modern.
Central beach of Gelendzhik
This largest sandy beach of the resort stretches along the embankment for 1.4 km from the water park to the Primorye Hotel. In its center is the Marine Station, from where you can go on a short boat trip along the coast or go fishing in the open sea. For beach and sea fun, vacationers will find the stretch of coast from the municipal administration to the Dolphin water park; the entertainment here is the best on the entire coast of Gelendzhik. For a more relaxed holiday, preference should be given to the area behind the seaport, there is a wider tanning area and it is easier to find a place in the sun.
Dolphin Beach
The beach is a kind of continuation of the water park of the same name and occupies 500 m of coastline. The sand on it contains a small amount of small pebbles, which are not felt when tanning on the mat. “Dolphin” is fully equipped; in addition to the usual equipment, it has convenient descents with railings into the sea, intended for people with a long life experience or limited physical capabilities. On the embankment next to the recreation area there are a large number of cafes and restaurants, bicycle and scooter rental points, and small and pleasant entertainment is also offered.
Beach of the boarding house "Friendly Beach"
The small beach of the boarding house occupies only 150 m of the coastal strip, but it is not clogged with gazebos, most of it is given over to relaxing on your own rugs. Long sheds with plastic roofs are located closer to the promenade area of the embankment. The “Friendly Beach” provides a full range of beach services, there is a children’s swimming area, attentive lifeguards, a beach volleyball court, and animators.
Beach 2k20
Nice Gelendzhik beach with its own sandy and green recreation areas. The sand on the shore is imported, fine, and regularly cleaned. “2k20” is located at the very beginning of Tolstoy Mys and takes about two hundred meters. Previously, this place was called “Kamyshi”, but after the reconstruction of the territory, the beach received a new name. There are always a lot of visitors here, but there is enough space for everyone, but you shouldn’t come here with your own car: there are problems with parking. The equipment and design of the recreation area are all new. The entertainment park is equipped as on other central beaches of the resort.
Beach "Sunny"
The beach of the medical and health complex “Solnechny” is located in the suburbs of Gelendzhik. There are few vacationers here, although the recreation area offers excellent conditions. On the shore there are many areas for team sports, sports equipment, a children's play park, and a full range of marine entertainment. A distinctive feature of the sunbathing area is a two-story solarium, where you can relax in the shade below and sunbathe on the second floor, admiring the beautiful sea views from above.
Beach of the camping "Thin Cape"
This only sandy beach on Tonky Cape belongs to the boarding house of the same name. Last year, the holiday home was undergoing reconstruction, so the sounds of construction equipment can sometimes be heard from the fenced area into the sunbathing area. Here you have the opportunity to breathe in clean sea air, swim in the open sea rather than in the bay: the water is cooler, but during the peak season this is even an advantage. The section of the shore of the former camping site is gradually being built up, but there are still enough places for everyone.
Beaches with artificial turf
Often beaches with artificial turf are small in size and belong to play or entertainment centers. You can relax, admire the surrounding landscapes, and sunbathe there in comfort, but getting into the water and the bottom can be difficult. Such beaches do not require long stays near the water; rather, they are intended for pleasant breaks between long walks or resort activities.
Kempinski Hotel Beach
More recently, everyone knew the Kempinski beach on Tolstoy Cape as the “Polar Star”, but after reconstruction and incredible transformation, the coastal strip received the name of a new hotel. This is a rare case of landscaping on the coast, when the natural rocky surface of a large area was improved with pleasant ceramic tiles and luxurious wooden decking. Today on the beach there is a special area for outdoor games on the sand, beautiful canopies, and gazebos. The hotel belongs to the elite category, so all the design corresponds to the high status of its visitors. You can relax here all day, admission is still free, but during the pandemic the beach capacity is only designed for 90 people.
Beach of the boarding house "Pine Grove" (Alean Family Resort)
This mini-beach belongs to the entertainment complex and almost all of it, except for a few picturesque boulders, is located on a wooden pontoon protruding into the sea. There are a couple of canopies on the sunbathing area, sun loungers are available for rent, and access to the water is via stairs.
In general, the best beaches in Gelendzhik are located closer to the city center and you should always grab a spot early in the morning. Popular vacation spots that harmoniously combine the comfort of a sunbathing area and a variety of entertainment include: Dolphin, which has few of its own attractions, but has a water park nearby. There are exceptions when vacationers are willing to spend time traveling to a remote beach because of the picturesque views, convenient access to the water and exciting beach activities right on the seashore.
Laguna Beach
This small pebble beach on Thin Cape attracts a large number of holidaymakers who take their places at the water's edge at first rays of sun. Here you can always rent good quality sun loungers and other beach equipment; during the day you can have a snack in a cafe without leaving the territory of the Lagoon. Children are invited to jump on trampolines and ride on inflatable slides on the shore, while adults can enjoy a traditional range of sea activities and extreme sports. The descent into the water is quite gentle, convenient for the smallest swimmers, and the increase in depth is gradual.
General description and device
Gelendzhik has prepared a lot of entertainment for vacationers on the central beach; the Dolphin water park is just one of them, but it may occupy the highest places in the ratings among young travelers. And for adult tourists there are many pleasant attractions here. This complex occupies a small area, but guarantees full relaxation.
According to reviews, the local slides are the most enjoyable - there are eight of them, each with specific features and guaranteeing new sensations. The hydromassage pool is no less popular; its depth is only a meter, so water massages are available to both parents and their children. In it you will find the following “secret weapons”:
The children's area in the Dolphin water park is represented by one, fairly large pool. In addition to this, there are also special slides for children; they are completely safe for small and young guests of the entertainment facility. They bring a lot of joy to children, and parents note other positive aspects of such a pastime:
It is clear that sliding down the slides and swimming in the children's mini-pool helps children establish contacts with peers, find new friends, and come up with fun games in the water together.
Paid beaches of Gelendzhik
The entrance fee to the coast is not provided for by the laws of the Russian Federation, therefore the owners of hotels or boarding houses, offering vacations for money, include a set of mandatory unpaid services in the ticket price. Tenants of such beaches can offer a free sun lounger under an umbrella, swimming in the pool, towel, cocktail, etc., much of what is included in the price of a trip or hotel stay. The cleanliness and service on such beaches is higher than on ordinary ones, and there are significantly fewer vacationers here.
Beach of the sanatorium "Krasnaya Talka"
A prestigious beach with a large number of areas for active sports, sea activities and a two-level area for sunbathers - in the shade of canopies and in the sun. The coating is a combination of areas with coarse river sand, small decorative pebbles of different colors and small islands of natural pebbles. The descent into the sea is relatively gentle, the depth increases gradually. There is a separate area for children's swimming, and there are cafes and bars. All services are free for guests; guests will have to spend money for pleasure.
Beach "Primorye"
The Primorye boarding house provides its guests with a free choice of sun loungers or sun loungers, as well as the services of a children's animator. It is comfortable to relax on the shore; the administration brought sand in addition to natural pebbles, provided a beautiful design of its territory and an atmosphere of resort fun. There is a pontoon on the water with convenient ladders for getting into the water, a tent-restaurant on the pier, many bars and rental of water equipment. There are always a lot of people in Primorye, loud music and laughter. Anyone can enter the beach, however, there is also a closed VIP area where you must pay for entry or provide a boarding house guest card. In the paid part of the beach - Sea House, there is an elite restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool with tables and sun loungers along the sides.
Beach of the boarding house "Sunny Beach"
This pebble beach is organized similarly to Primorye: there is a public and VIP area. The free beach here offers the usual infrastructure and entertainment for municipal areas, and additionally a children's playground. On the paid section of the coast there are more varied attractions, beautiful tents are installed, there is an equipped area for sports games, and there is a cafe. The entrance fee is small and well worth the service offered.
Wild beaches of Gelendzhik
Secluded vacation spots by the sea without infrastructure are more common on Tonky Cape and its suburbs. Usually these are small sections of the coast near the rocks, which are quite difficult to get down to, and while relaxing on them you can get caught in a rock fall. There are also narrow strips of wild beaches in Gelendzhik near cottage villages on the outskirts of the city.
Wild Lagoon Beach
The beach is located on the Thin Cape of Gelendzhik between the beaches of Breeze and Torik residential complex. The surface is pebbly; there are large stones at the entrance to the sea. The water is clean, but the descent into the sea is very steep, half a meter from the water's edge - about 70 cm. In some places in the water area there are dense thickets of algae.
Beach in the Magnolia neighborhood
The administration of the area next to which the beach is located monitors the cleanliness of the shore; it is cleaned every morning. You can only relax here on a pebble surface. Trees grow near the recreation area, in the shade of which you can hide from the heat. The descent into the water is relatively gentle, the water is clean. Among the undoubted advantages of this place are two parking lots (paid and free), which are located near the coastal area, several restaurants and a cafe that is decent in all respects. Prices are high, aimed at wealthy clients.
Wild beaches of Tolstoy Cape
Several wild beaches of Gelendzhik are located at the end of Tolstoy Cape, not far from the lighthouse. The shore here is rocky, covered with pine trees, and the sunbathing areas are classified as single and double. On the more spacious mini-beaches there is a lot of garbage, which is removed by local services and volunteers only in the spring. All supplies, including water, must be taken with you. The proximity of civilization can only be felt on the stretch of shore near the “Shater” restaurant, where, in addition to signature dishes, tourists are offered rental sun loungers, umbrellas, and showers.
Sosnovka Beach
The picturesque beach, surrounded on all sides by rocks, is located in the suburbs of Gelendzhik. Here you can fully experience the power and grandeur of nature. You first need to make your way to the shore along steep stairs, and then through forest paths. The area of the recreation area is very small, covered with pebbles of various sizes and stones. The seabed is also not free from obstacles, however, the water is very clean and transparent.
Nudist beach of Gelendzhik (“Krucha”)
The Gelendzhik beach, popular among nudists, is called “Krucha”; it is located at the very end of Tolstoy Cape on a narrow strip of coast near steep cliffs. The path to it is laid from the lighthouse, first along a path, and then along paths well trodden by “savages”. At the beginning of the recreation area, there is sand at the water's edge, but as you move away from the lighthouse, the beach becomes pebble interspersed with sharp stones. Diving into the sea is associated with difficulties in walking around boulders; at the bottom there are holes and dense growth of algae. It is comfortable to sunbathe here, the mountains protect you from the winds, and the sun-warmed stones maintain high temperatures for a long time, enveloping the body in gentle warmth even at sunset.
